Names In The News

In London, Paul Kelso notes confirmation that First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA will lead the U.S. delegation at the Olympic Opening Ceremony "is good news for London's celebrity stakes but adds a major security headache for planners." Obama travels with "effectively the same vast security detail as her husband, and accommodating them on opening night is a major challenge." Officially, each VIP attending the ceremony "is allowed two additional places for security guards, but extra room will have to be found for the huge security detail that accompanies the most high-profile woman in the world" (London TELEGRAPH, 3/14).

James ranks third on Yahoo Finance poll on
personalities that "earn more than they deserve"

MONEY TALKS: A YAHOO FINANCE poll recently asked "Who do you think makes way more money than she/he deserves to," with Heat F LEBRON JAMES ranking third with 24% of the total. The most popular choice (51%) was NICOLE "SNOOKI" POLIZZI of MTV's "JERSEY SHORE." Reality star KIM KARDASHIAN earned 45% of votes for second place. The poll was conducted online in partnership with Ipsos Media in November among 2,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/13).

JOINING THE RUN: Boston Marathon Race Dir DAVE MCGILLIVRAY, Marlins President of Baseball Operations LARRY BEINFEST and Marlins Special Assistant to the President JEFF CONINE are among 17 runners confirmed to join Marlins President DAVID SAMSON on April 27 for his 50-mile charity "Run to Honor the Workers" that helped build Marlins Park. Sponsors for the race include Marlins Owner JEFFREY LORIA, architecture firm Populous & Hunt/Moss and Wasserman Media Group (SUNSENTINEL.com, 3/12).

FATHER OF THE YEAR: The American Diabetes Association and the Father's Day Council of Orlando announced that Magic CEO ALEX MARTINS is among the recipients of the '12 Orlando Father of the Year Award, given to men in recognition for the strength, commitment and love they exhibit as fathers (Magic).
NAMES: A website aimed at getting the Motion Picture Association of America to change the designation of the film "BULLY" from rated R to PG-13 announced that Saints QB DREW BREES had joined the cause (LATIMES.com, 3/12)....Former Fiesta Bowl President & CEO JOHN JUNKER pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix to a felony conspiracy charge stemming from his role in an illegal campaign-financing scheme. It is his second plea agreement in the case (AP, 3/13)....The cast of History Channel's "PAWN STARS" will serve as grand marshals for the May 26 NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS)....NBA Commissioner DAVID STERN and ESPN President JOHN SKIPPER are among those scheduled to speak at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's "The Cable Show 2012" on May 21-23 in Boston (THE DAILY)....Las Vegas developer STEVE WYNN is considering buying late IMG Chair & CEO TED FORSTMANN's E. 70th St, N.Y. penthouse, on the market for $36M (N.Y. POST, 3/14)....Blackhawks G COREY CRAWFORD purchased an eight-room 3,242-sq-ft townhouse in Chicago's River North district for $1.09M (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/14)....Patriots WR CHAD OCHOCINCO Monday bought dinner for more than 200 of his Twitter followers at Harlem soul food restaurant Sylvia's (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/14).